Canadian Broadcaster CBC Advises Against Calling 9/11 Attacks 'Terrorism' Ahead of 25th Anniversary

Canada's public broadcaster CBC has instructed its journalists not to refer to the September 11 attacks as "terrorism" in coverage marking the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. This directive, revealed through an internal memo first published by the Toronto Sun and reported by the New York Post, reflects a longstanding CBC policy aimed at maintaining neutrality by avoiding politically and emotionally charged terms. The memo explicitly stated, "Do not refer to the September 11 attacks as terrorist attacks," describing the events factually without using the term "terrorism." The memo was signed by Bassem Boshra, CBC's senior standards and public trust manager.

CBC spokesperson Kerry Kelly explained that the broadcaster focuses on reporting the facts and the scale of violence clearly, quoting affected individuals and official sources, but refrains from labeling groups or acts as "terrorist" due to the term's heavy political and emotional connotations. This policy has previously sparked controversy, notably after the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, when CBC advised against calling Hamas militants "terrorists."

The policy has drawn sharp criticism from Canadian Conservative MP Rachel Thomas, who condemned the refusal to call the 9/11 attacks terrorism as disrespectful to victims, survivors, and first responders. She described attempts to sanitize or rewrite history as deeply hurtful and unjust. The report also noted that Osama bin Laden himself referred to the attacks as "terrorism" in a 2001 video, highlighting the term's established usage. CBC defended its approach as a consistent, global editorial standard rather than a special stance on any particular event or group.

The controversy underscores ongoing debates about media language and neutrality in reporting politically sensitive events, especially those involving violence and terrorism.